Sports

Women's Soccer Blanks Third Straight Opponent

Leave it to the No. 21 UCF women’s soccer team to top its impressive Friday night 7-0 win by cruising to another dominant victory Sunday for its third-straight shutout. The Knights (13-4-0, 7-3-0) sent off their senior class with a 5-0 victory over Marshall (7-10-1, 2-6-1) while donning special pink jerseys in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

To recap the weekend, the Knights netted 12 goals, outshot their opponents 44-6 and limited the Pirates and the Herd to two corners combined. In addition, senior Tishia Jewell tied the program’s career record for shots with 229.

“I think now we have good momentum, and we just want to keep it going and show teams the best we can be,” Jewell said.

Added defender Ashley Nicol: “From here on out, every day is senior day.”

Forward Jennifer Martin gave the Knights a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Carleigh Williams sent a free kick into the box where Martin placed a header just below the crossbar for her second game-winner of the year.

Forty-three seconds later, UCF capitalized off another header – this time from Nicol. Jewell played a ball to midfielder Andrea Rodrigues, who delivered a cross from the left side to Nicol for the score.

Kayla Darden increased the lead to 3-0 just before halftime when Zoe Hayes sent her a pass from midfield, allowing Darden to send a low-driven ball to the far post past the keeper.

Forward Kristina Trujic notched her second goal of the weekend in the 60th minute while inside the box thanks to a double-assist from Nicol and Jewell.

Senior forward Nicolette Radovcic wrapped up the match nicely in the 83rd minute after classmate Bianca Joswiak sent her a ball, which she flicked around the defender inside the box and put it past the keeper for her 10th goal of the year.

“The attack has been great — a lot of movement and creativity up top,” UCF head coach Amanda Cromwell said. “The seniors came up big in a lot of different ways with assists, playmaking and goals. Getting the shutout was huge, as well.”

The four seniors left the game with five minutes remaining to rousing applause from the crowd and entered a receiving line of hugs on the sideline.

UCF will play its final match of the regular season Friday at 5 p.m. at Southern Miss. The Knights closed their home schedule with a 9-2 record at the UCF Soccer Complex. The pink jerseys will be auctioned online via UCFAthletics.com.